Things to Consider When Buying a Home Hyperbaric Chamber

Are you interested in buying a hyperbaric home oxygen chamber?

Are you trying to achieve optimal health using these innovative new devices?

For those looking into buying a home hyperbaric chamber, there is so much information to sort through when planning to purchase equipment. From the long history of hyperbaric oxygen tanks to FDA safety considerations to fire suppression systems, there is quite a lot to think about.

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know when you are considering buying a home hyperbaric chamber unit. Read on, and you’ll learn about the key factors you’ll need to think about when planning for a home chamber.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

First of all, it is important to have an understanding of the history and purpose of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was developed as an option to address decompression sickness in divers. For the general public, hyperbaric chambers are still associated with diving illness.

However recent medical studies have suggested that the applications are far broader. There are a number of indications that can be treated with home hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

It is being studied as a unique and innovative tool for promoting optimal health at home. There is a growing demand for this therapy as the technology continues to improve.

What Is a Hyperbaric Chamber?

What exactly is a hyperbaric chamber? Hyperbaric oxygen chambers supply oxygen at 3x greater pressure than typical atmospheric pressure.

Traditional hard-sided chambers are usually made to be approximately 3 feet in diameter. Most chambers come in sizes up to 8 feet long.

Just based on these dimensions, you can see that most people will feel comfortable inside, with some room to stretch out. In traditional chambers, it is easy to watch TV or listen to music during your treatment as the chamber can be transparent and you can interact with the outside world.

Home Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Historically, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used in the hospital for many common medical conditions. 

In this article, however, we will focus on home hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

You’ll have several considerations before you buy your first hyperbaric chamber. You’ll need to think about safety elements, and whether you plan to purchase a monoplace versus multiplace chamber.

Monoplace vs. Multiplace Chambers

As discussed, there are two primary types of hyperbaric oxygen chambers. A monoplace hyperbaric chamber treats only one person at a time. However, a multiplace hyperbaric chamber can treat multiple people at the same time.

Most manufacturers of these chambers can design individual chambers to custom requirements. You’ll need to think about whether you want to purchase a chamber for just yourself or one other, or if you plan to see multiple individuals at once.

Safety Elements

Regardless of the type of chamber you choose, it is absolutely essential to purchase equipment with good safety features.

One of the most important safety elements in any hyperbaric chamber is the fire suppression system. This is especially critical for multiplace hyperbaric chambers.

You want to look to find whether the chamber you wish to purchase has an alarm system or an operating hand line.

Oxygen levels in a hyperbaric chamber should be monitored at regular intervals. Drastic changes to oxygen levels can create a dangerously flammable environment. Once the air that is supplied to you exceeds 21% oxygen by volume, the machine should issue a clear warning with visual and audible alarms.

Budget

You also need to take into consideration your budget. Any hyperbaric chamber you intend to purchase will not come cheap. There are certain manufacturers that incorporate superior technology with increased security and safety.

Of course, they are significantly more expensive. If you want to ensure safety during your treatment, you’ll be looking at higher hyperbaric chamber prices. Be sure to ask about any additional charges such as transfer or shipping fees.

You also want to make sure that your treatment can be extended to 60 or 90 minutes if necessary. Ensure that manufacturers have designed your hyperbaric chamber to last beyond an hour to get the best effects.

Purpose and Functionality

As an end-user of these products, you’ll need to know about which designated use you intend to keep the product for. Based on this end result, you may need to adjust the level of pressure for the purpose for which you bought the machine.

You’ll need to know what the maximum pressure of the hyperbaric oxygen chamber is so that there is no confusion as the procedure is taking place. Usually, pressure in the chamber is measured as psi or atmospheres.

For beginners or even first-timers, it is advised to use a mild chamber setting compared to a more advanced setting to reduce the amount of risk involved in the procedure.

Longevity

It is important to understand that hyperbaric oxygen therapy functions best as a medical device after many sessions have taken place. Most treatments require upwards of 40 sessions. It is possible that certain patients will continue to require follow-up sessions after the 40 session limit is reached.

This would be a great reason to have a hyperbaric chamber at home. For short-term therapy, it is important to consider renting versus buying.

If a treatment is extended into the home for just a few weeks, renting may be a more responsible decision. However, if the treatment duration is unknown, then it makes more sense to purchase a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for the long term.

When you plan to bring home a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, it is best to study the operation of that chamber before purchase. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable with updating any setting during use, and you may not be comfortable with the operation of certain models.

Hard-Sided vs. Soft-Sided

The additional decision you’ll need to make between different types of chambers is hard-sided versus soft-sided. Usually, a hard-sided chamber is more expensive as it is available in the form of steel, acrylic, or aluminum.

The reason that these chambers are more expensive is that they are capable of issuing far greater pressure to the individual inside, which can be essential in situations where damage to sensitive tissues is a concern. Emergency situations like carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness require a hard-sided chamber for optimal effect.

However, a soft-sided chamber is a better option for someone at home who wants to experience the general benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These are much more convenient and affordable for home use, and also are lighter weight, and easier to install.

There are soft-sided chambers that are approved by the FDA. These chambers can deliver 96% pure oxygen, with a variable pressure between 4.2 and 7.5 psi. They are beneficial for the use of a wide variety of medical conditions.

Location, Location, Location

You need to think about where you plan to install your chamber. Putting in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber will require that you have good air circulation in the room.

You’ll need to ensure that you can generate enough space to place the chamber in your home. Some chambers are particularly bulky, especially hard-sided chambers.

The inside of your chamber is going to be warmer than the exterior. This means that when there isn’t proper ventilation on the outside of the chamber in the room, the patient temperature will increase and the therapy will become uncomfortable or dangerous.

Therefore, you need to have a proper air conditioning installation. This way you will create adequate ventilation that keeps your body safe during chamber use.

Manufacturer Reputation

You will need to choose a reputable seller to avoid problems arising from counterfeit and dangerous manufacturers. There are a variety of sellers on the market who have less than adequate knowledge of hyperbaric chambers and may sell a product that could potentially injure you.

Look for a company that will provide a demonstration to you about the operation of the chamber. You want to find a company that has a proven record of customer support so that you can reach out easily when issues arise.

The seller should also provide you with verification and safety records. You want to make sure that those records are valid and guarantee safe use.

Mild Chamber Considerations

Mild chambers are typically oriented toward home use. These chambers do not achieve pressures as high as those used in medical settings. However, they come at a much lower price and can be convenient for short-term use.

They can also be excellent for long-term use with proper maintenance and care. Many mild chambers are soft-sided and use zipper applications for entry and exit into the unit.

There are some very specific instruction concerns to think about. When you are first inspecting a potential chamber for use you’ll need to think about each of the components to ensure that the chamber can hold its pressure over time.

Zippers

The weakest part of the chamber is the zipper. You want to find a chamber with a sturdy zipper that has as much support as possible.

There should be at least three separate supports of safety. For example, you might have three zippers or two zippers and an additional lock.

Simply put, if you do not have the support for the model you’re considering, you should plan for the model to fail over the long term. It is also important that one of the failsafe sippers is an air seal zipper rather than a poorly designed rubber flap that is sometimes placed between zippers.

Valves

Usually, there are open and closed valves on a mild chamber. If you’re purchasing a mild chamber that does not achieve relatively high pressures, you want to purchase a chamber with open valves. This is because the power could possibly go out or detach from the chamber.

Airflow

Obviously, you still want to have airflow into the system. If the chamber has a closed valve and the energy supplied to the chamber is cut off, it could pose a serious risk or hazard to you. You may not be able to exit the chamber that no longer has air exchange.

Frames

Chambers typically come with two types of frames. These are internal and external frames. Overall, most experienced users of hyperbaric chambers prefer external frames.

Simply put they are easier to construct and also more durable. If you have an internal frame that means that part of your body is going to be resting on metal throughout the session, which doesn’t feel good after just a few minutes.

Compressors

You also need to think about whether your chamber comes with one or two compressors. A chamber with two compressors is going to be safer. In case one fails you still have the other compressor that supplies air. This will overall ensure a safer session.

Most compressors are quiet, however, certain compressors can be extremely loud. You’ll want to look at product reviews to determine which you are getting.

Getting the Perfect Home Hyperbaric Chamber

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers are revolutionary new devices not just in the emergency setting but also at home. There are a wide array of applications for home hyperbaric chambers, and many people are waking up to the idea of installing a chamber in their own home.

If you are interested in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you are making a great decision for your health. If you would like to initiate treatment or talk about purchasing a home chamber, please contact us today. We will be happy to walk you through the available options to decide which model is right for you.